The Ford Family - Eli, Pre-K 3

Our family, Eli (age 3 1/2) and in Mrs. Pernick's PK3 class, Nell (age 4 months), Daddy (Calvin Ford), and Mommy (Sarah Ford) enjoyed an afternoon of community service this past Saturday, March 18th. We helped, alongside 446 other volunteers, to package 75,000 meals for families in need through the Grosse Pointe Memorial Church and their partner, Kids Coalition Against Hunger. We enjoyed pouring rice, freeze dried vegetables, soy, and grains into bags, knowing these packaged meals would be serving thousands of hungry people. Eli particularly enjoyed pouring the rice into the large funnel and encouraging his sister, Nell, during the experience through laughing and giggling together. When Mommy asked Eli why we were spending our Saturday helping package meals for people in need, his answer was "because of love." We enjoyed our special family experience helping others.

Marseille Allen '97

I raised over $60,000 through GoFundMe for the Flint Water Crisis. My team and I delivered nearly a half 1 million bottles of water, several thousand oranges (vitamin C helps combat the impact of lead), and baby wipes. Take a look at the video on my campaign.

Varsity Men's Basketball Team

Our basketball team took an afternoon during midwinter break to volunteer our time to Gleaners Food Bank. It was a wonderful for our guys to be a part of the process of providing meals for those who struggle to put food on the table in the Metro Detroit. Like most service, the feeling we got as a team was phenomenal. Not only did we grow closer as a team, but individually, we felt that we had done done something important for someone else. There is nothing better than the feeling that you made someone's life better.

The Maibach Family - Jacob, 6th Grade

Our family traveled to Costa Rica between Christmas and New Years to participate in a home build with an organization called Homes of Hope. We were able to complete a modest wood framed home in about three days. This was our second year and our second home built. It is a fantastic experience and helps each of us appreciate what we have.

Niko Harastaris - 1st Grade

Hi my name is Niko Haratsaris and I’m in first grade.  When I started donating money to Humble Design it felt good because I wanted kids to be happy and grown-ups to be happy when they sleep. I just did a lot of chores and when I do chores I get money.  I asked my mom and dad to donate my money to Humble Design so they could give it to a less fortunate family. I had $15 and my grandpa gave me $15 more and my dad gave me $20 more, so I had $50.It was good because I got to meet the owners of Humble Design. 

DCDS Advancement & Business Offices

The Advancement Office and the Business Office joined together to do community service at a local non-profit organization called The Bottomless Toy Chest. This organization is devoted to delivering toys, crafts, and uplifting experiences to pediatric cancer patients at various hospitals in the area. The two offices participated in a wrap party at the organization's toy warehouse. Together they wrapped and boxed over 184 gifts. Each toy is brand new, gift-wrapped in cellophane, ribbon and hand-delivered to a patient. The clear gift-wrap keeps the items clean and safe for children with weakened immune systems, gives them a choice in an environment where they have no choices, and gives children who are under massive physical and emotional distress the joyful experience of opening a present. For more information on how to volunteer for this organization, visit www.bottomlesstoychest.org.

Kim (Otsuji) Link '02

This past November I had the opportunity to participate in the Christina Noble Children's Foundation CamNam Challenge (www.cncf.org). This 420 km bike ride from Angkor Wat in Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam raised money for the Christina Noble Children's Foundation. With the mission of giving children back their childhood and breaking the cycle of poverty through education, health care and community development, CNCF is making an incredible difference in thousands of lives in Vietnam and Mongolia. I had the privelage of raising over $5000 to support the Foundation and along with 20 other cyclists from 5 countries, including my brother Gates, completed the challenge. I was moved by the stories of the other cyclists and how each was motivated to take time from their "regular lives" and ride as a way to be a part of something much bigger than themselves. The ride culminated at the Foundation school in Ho Chi Minh City and we were greeted by the children.